Illinois&nbsp;cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation.

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Illinois&nbsp;cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation. . See the [[Illinois Cemeteries|Illinois Cemeteries]] state wiki page for more information.

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*[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gs& Find A Grave] can be searched by the&nbsp;name of a person or family to find where a person is buried.&nbsp; Usually gives birth and death dates often with a picture of the tombstone.&nbsp; May&nbsp;give obituaries,&nbsp;names of&nbsp;family members and links to their information in Find A Grave.

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'''Published Records'''

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*Find A Grave also gives&nbsp;a [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=csr&CScn=&CScntry=4&CSst=16&CScnty=752 list of cemeteries in&nbsp;Mason County] and links to the &nbsp;information&nbsp;for the&nbsp;individuals buried there.

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:*The [[Family History Library Catalog|Family History Library Catalog]] lists {{FHL|489309|subject-id|disp=records of cemeteries in Mason County}}.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cemetery books&nbsp;may be on [http://books.google.com/advanced_book_search Google Books] or available at public libraries.

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:*Books about Mason County cemeteries are located at many libraries ([http://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=worldcat_org_all&q=Mason+county+Illinois+cemeteries WorldCat]). Explore the wiki page about [[Worldcat Online Catalog|how to search WorldCat]].

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*[http://usgwtombstones.org/illinois/mason.htm Mason Co.&nbsp;IL&nbsp;USGenWeb Tombstone Project] usually gives the names of the deceased in alphabetical order by last name with birth and death dates plus any remarks.&nbsp;

:*[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gs& Find A Grave] can be searched by the&nbsp;name of a person or family to find where a person is buried.&nbsp; Usually gives birth and death dates often with a picture of the tombstone.&nbsp; May&nbsp;give obituaries,&nbsp;names of&nbsp;family members and links to their information in Find A Grave.

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:*[http://usgwtombstones.org/illinois/mason.htm Mason Co.&nbsp;IL&nbsp;USGenWeb Tombstone Project] usually gives the names of the deceased in alphabetical order by last name with birth and death dates plus any remarks.

*The [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library Catalog] lists {{FHL|489309|subject-id|disp=some&nbsp;records of&nbsp;cemeteries in&nbsp;Mason County}}.&nbsp; Some of the books or others may be on [http://books.google.com/advanced_book_search Google Books] or available at public libraries.

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<br>

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*[http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/localList.php?local=6402&locTGroup=Cemeteries&direction=down&sec=0&qty=39&stateAbbv=&stateName= ePodunk&nbsp;list of&nbsp;Mason County cemeteries] gives the names of the cemeteries in the county with a link to more information such as address, phone number, and web site.

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'''Cemetery Gazetteers'''

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:*Find A Grave also gives&nbsp;a [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=csr&CScn=&CScntry=4&CSst=16&CScnty=752 list of cemeteries in&nbsp;Mason County] and links to the &nbsp;information&nbsp;for the&nbsp;individuals buried there.

:*[http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/localList.php?local=6402&locTGroup=Cemeteries&direction=down&sec=0&qty=39&stateAbbv=&stateName= ePodunk&nbsp;list of&nbsp;Mason County cemeteries] gives the names of the cemeteries in the county with a link to more information such as address, phone number, and web site.

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:*[http://mason.ilgenweb.net/cemeterylocations.html Mason County Cemeteries].&nbsp; Courtesy of USGenWeb. Some grave transcriptions, but primarily a list of county cemeteries.

Church records may give birth, death and marriage information as well as indictate family relationships. See Illinois state wiki article [[Illinois Church Records|Church Records]] for more ideas about how to use church records in your research. [http://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=worldcat_org_all&q=mason+county+Illinois+church+ Many libraries( WorldCat)] and the {{FHL|489352|subject-id|disp=Family History Library}} hold abstracts of church records for Mason County. Learn more about how to search [[Worldcat Online Catalog|WorldCat]] and the [[Family History Library Catalog Place-name Search|Family History Library Catalog.]]

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The first preachers in Mason were the circuit riders: The Methodist and Baptists came early in the 1820s. Permanent churches in the area trace their origins to congregations orgnozed in the mid- 1800s.

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A [http://genealogytrails.com/ill/mason/church.html list of churches] and a brief history of the churches in Mason County is at the Genealogy Trails website.

:*[http://www.gcah.org/site/c.ghKJI0PHIoE/b.2858857/k.BF4D/Home.htm United Methodist Record Search]

=== Court Records ===

=== Court Records ===

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'''Online Resources'''

'''Online Resources'''

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*[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx BLM GLO Records]. Search original land patents for Mason County from the Govenment Land Office (GLO) or Eastern States Office. Some searches include images of the original warrants. All search results include the patant details needed for requesting copies of the land entry files at the National Archives.&nbsp; The GLO&nbsp;is the custodian of millions of land title documents. The General Land Office Automated Records Project is responsible for making these important documents available to the public.

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*[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx BLM GLO Records]. Search original land patents for Mason County from the Govenment Land Office (GLO) or Eastern States Office. Some searches include images of the original warrants. All search results include the patant details needed for requesting copies of the land entry files at the National Archives.&nbsp; The GLO&nbsp;is the custodian of millions of land title documents. The General Land Office Automated Records Project is responsible for making these important documents available to the public.

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*[http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/data_lan.html Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales]. The Illinois State Archives has an online index&nbsp;to the records of Public land sales held by the State Archives. The indexes are by purchasers name and by legal description. This is a statewide collection with nearly 550,000 land sales fro 54740 square miles.

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*[http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/data_lan.html Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales]. The Illinois State Archives has an online index&nbsp;to the records of Public land sales held by the State Archives. The indexes are by purchasers name and by legal description. This is a statewide collection with nearly 550,000 land sales fro 54740 square miles.

*'''1796–1907''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1246 U.S. General Land Office Records] found at Ancestry.com ($)

*'''1796–1907''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1246 U.S. General Land Office Records] found at Ancestry.com ($)

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[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3780 Illinois Public Land Purchase Records] This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)

[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3780 Illinois Public Land Purchase Records] This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)

*Sheldon, Theodore. ''Land registration in Illinois''. Chicago: Callaghan Co., 1901. Digital book. Expains the laws regarding land and the land systems used in Illinois. Includes court cases involving land issues. In addition to being on Ancestry, this book is available online at no cost at [http://www.archive.org/details/landregistration00sheliala Internet Archives] and [http://books.google.com/ Google Books].

*Sheldon, Theodore. ''Land registration in Illinois''. Chicago: Callaghan Co., 1901. Digital book. Expains the laws regarding land and the land systems used in Illinois. Includes court cases involving land issues. In addition to being on Ancestry, this book is available online at no cost at [http://www.archive.org/details/landregistration00sheliala Internet Archives] and [http://books.google.com/ Google Books].

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<br>'''Additional Resources'''

<br>'''Additional Resources'''

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Additional resources for Mason County land and property may be found in the {{FHL|429181|subject_id|disp=FHLC}}. Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at [https://www.familysearch.org/locations Family History Centers.] Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the [[Introduction to the Family History Library Catalog|Family History Library Catalog]] and the [[Worldcat Online Catalog]].

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Additional resources for Mason County land and property may be found in the {{FHL|429181|subject_id|disp=FHLC}}. Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at [https://www.familysearch.org/locations Family History Centers.] Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the [[Introduction to the Family History Library Catalog|Family History Library Catalog]] and the [[Worldcat Online Catalog]].

=== Maps ===

=== Maps ===

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=== Military ===

=== Military ===

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==== Civil War ====

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==== ''Civil War'' ====

Civil War service men from Mason County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments&nbsp;that were formed from men of Mason County.

Civil War service men from Mason County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments&nbsp;that were formed from men of Mason County.

Original probate records are held by the [[Mason County, Illinois Courthouse|circuit court clerk]]. Probate records include wills, inventories, settlements, and guardianship records.&nbsp;No copies of probate records are held at [[Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)|IRAD]]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|Explore how to search IRAD]]–UIS. The following copies are available&nbsp;online and in the Family History Library Catalog:<br>

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Original probate records are held by the [[Mason County, Illinois Courthouse|circuit court clerk]]. Probate records include wills, inventories, settlements, and guardianship records.&nbsp;No copies of probate records are held at [[Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)|IRAD]]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|Explore how to search IRAD]]–UIS. The following copies are available&nbsp;online and in the Family History Library Catalog:<br>

See [[Illinois Vital Records]] for more information about vital records in Illinois. Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth (1877) and death (1877) records are kept by the [[Mason County, Illinois Courthouse|Mason County Clerk]] while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the [http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/index.htm Illinois Department of Public Health.] with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are kept by the County Clerk from 1829 to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.

See [[Illinois Vital Records]] for more information about vital records in Illinois. Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth (1877) and death (1877) records are kept by the [[Mason County, Illinois Courthouse|Mason County Clerk]] while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the [http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/index.htm Illinois Department of Public Health.] with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are kept by the County Clerk from 1829 to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.

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Copies of original records may be accessed through the [[The Family History Library|Family History Library]] and the [http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)] located at the Universtiy of Illinois–Springfield(UIS). Search Mason County records in the Local Governmental Records Holdings Database&nbsp;. For information on how to use IRAD see the [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|IRAD–UIS]] Wiki page.

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Copies of original records may be accessed through the [[The Family History Library|Family History Library]] and the [http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)] located at the University of Illinois–Springfield(UIS). Search Mason County records in the Local Governmental Records Holdings Database. For information on how to use IRAD see the [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|IRAD–UIS]] Wiki page.

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{{FHL|455911|subject-id|disp=Explore Mason County vital records}} and {{FHL|422482|subject-id|disp=Mason County vital records indexes}}found in the Family History Library Catalog. [http://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=worldcat_org_all&q=mason+county+illinois+marriage+records Other libraries(at WorldCat)] also hold copies of abstracted Mason County vital records. [[Worldcat Online Catalog|(How to explore WorldCat).]]

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{{FHL|455911|subject-id|disp=Explore Mason County vital records}} and {{FHL|422482|subject-id|disp=Mason County vital records indexes}}found in the Family History Library Catalog. [http://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=worldcat_org_all&q=mason+county+illinois+marriage+records Other libraries(at WorldCat)] also hold copies of abstracted Mason County vital records. [[Worldcat Online Catalog|(How to explore WorldCat).]]

==== Birth ====

==== Birth ====

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:*'''1877–1982''' Birth Record Index [http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|222557|item|disp=FHL Film 1313036–1313037}}

:*'''1877–1982''' Birth Record Index [http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|222557|item|disp=FHL Film 1313036–1313037}}

:*'''1877–1906''' Birth Record [http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|222557|item|disp=FHL Film 1313036–1313037}}

:*'''1877–1906''' Birth Record [http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|222557|item|disp=FHL Film 1313036–1313037}}

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:*'''1877–1906''' Birth Record, Delayed [http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|222557|item|disp=FHL Film 1313038}}

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:*'''1877–1906''' Birth Record, Delayed [http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|222557|item|disp=FHL Film 1313038}}

:*'''1878–1946''' Marriage records index [http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|222557|item|disp=FHL Film 1313035 Item 2}}

:*'''1878–1946''' Marriage records index [http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|222557|item|disp=FHL Film 1313035 Item 2}}

:*'''1841–1918''' Marriage Record [http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|222557|item|disp=FHL Film 1313033–1313035}}

:*'''1841–1918''' Marriage Record [http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|222557|item|disp=FHL Film 1313033–1313035}}

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:*'''1841–1850''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7851 Illinois Marriages 1790 to 1860]. Search for Mason county records.Ancestry ($). The source of this collection is films in the Family History Library's&nbsp;collection

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:*'''1841–1850''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7851 Illinois Marriages 1790 to 1860]. Search for Mason county records.Ancestry ($). The source of this collection is films in the Family History Library's&nbsp;collection

:*'''1910–1917''' Death and Burial Permit Record,Havana City[http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|494419|item|disp=FHL Film 1689019 Item 2}}

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:*'''1910–1917''' Death and Burial Permit Record,Havana City[http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html IRAD-UIS]. [[IRAD - University of Illinois at Springfield|How to Use IRAD]] search for Mason County records. {{FHL|494419|item|disp=FHL Film 1689019 Item 2}}

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Mason County records are ''not'' included in th Pre–1916 Statewide Death Index at IRAD.

Mason County records are ''not'' included in th Pre–1916 Statewide Death Index at IRAD.

Mason County Organization

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Mason County are kept, see the Mason County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts

Large numbers of Kentuckians settled in frontier Mason County, Illinois. The name of the county (Mason) is reminiscent of Mason County, Kentucky - the previous residence of many pioneer settlers.[1]

Parent County

1841--Mason County was created 20 January 1841 from Tazewelland Menard Counties. County seat: Havana [2]

Find A Grave can be searched by the name of a person or family to find where a person is buried. Usually gives birth and death dates often with a picture of the tombstone. May give obituaries, names of family members and links to their information in Find A Grave.

The first preachers in Mason were the circuit riders: The Methodist and Baptists came early in the 1820s. Permanent churches in the area trace their origins to congregations orgnozed in the mid- 1800s.

A list of churches and a brief history of the churches in Mason County is at the Genealogy Trails website.

BLM GLO Records. Search original land patents for Mason County from the Govenment Land Office (GLO) or Eastern States Office. Some searches include images of the original warrants. All search results include the patant details needed for requesting copies of the land entry files at the National Archives. The GLO is the custodian of millions of land title documents. The General Land Office Automated Records Project is responsible for making these important documents available to the public.

Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales. The Illinois State Archives has an online index to the records of Public land sales held by the State Archives. The indexes are by purchasers name and by legal description. This is a statewide collection with nearly 550,000 land sales fro 54740 square miles.

Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)

Sheldon, Theodore. Land registration in Illinois. Chicago: Callaghan Co., 1901. Digital book. Expains the laws regarding land and the land systems used in Illinois. Includes court cases involving land issues. In addition to being on Ancestry, this book is available online at no cost at Internet Archives and Google Books.

Additional resources for Mason County land and property may be found in the FHLC. Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Maps

Military

Civil War

Civil War service men from Mason County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Mason County.

Naturalization

Newspapers and Obituaries

Probate Records

Original probate records are held by the circuit court clerk. Probate records include wills, inventories, settlements, and guardianship records. No copies of probate records are held at IRAD. Explore how to search IRAD–UIS. The following copies are available online and in the Family History Library Catalog:

1841–1973 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mason County, Ill. Mason County Illinois Probate Index. Havana, IL: Published by Mason County members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1988. Other Libraries (WorldCat)FHL Book 977.3553 P22m

Repositories

County Courthouse

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Mason County are kept, see the Mason County Courthouse page.

Family History Center

Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (United States) and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy. Currently there are no Family History Centers located directly in Mason County.

You may search your address for a center near you on the FamilySearch site.

The following centers are located in surrounding counties. Their wiki pages may supply hours and other information.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)

IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois.

Social Groups Online

Societies

Taxation

Vital Records

See Illinois Vital Records for more information about vital records in Illinois. Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth (1877) and death (1877) records are kept by the Mason County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health. with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are kept by the County Clerk from 1829 to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.